Annabelle: Creation (15)
Three stars
Dir: David F Sandberg
With: Stephanie Sigman, Anthony LaPaglia
Runtime: 109 minutes
SUCH was the creepiness of the vintage doll in 2013 horror hit The Conjuring, it has spawned three more films, including this origins story from David F Sandberg (Lights Out). The toymaker to blame, we learn here, was one Samuel Mullins (Anthony LaPaglia), who created the first Annabelle for his beloved daughter. How did that act of love in small town America lead to mayhem for decades to come? Sandberg’s tale of orphaned children and parental grief pulls all the wearingly familiar tricks, including ghostly youngsters appearing in the shadows, but there are a couple of well executed jump-out-your-seat moments, some nice touches of humour, plus brief spells of the always welcome LaPaglia.
Tom of Finland (18)
Three stars
Dir: Dome Karukoski
With: Jakob Oftebro, Jessica Grabowsky
Runtime: 114 minutes
LONG an icon in the gay community, Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen, the creator of the titular character, is here give the full bells and whistles biopic treatment that should bring his story to a wider audience. Picking up his life during the Second World War, director Dome Karukoski follows Laaksonen through the long years of hiding his sexuality, all the while shaping his famous character. It was America that made the man, the community’s adoration of him thinking he had boarded a flight in Finland and landed in heaven. An affectionate tribute with Pekka Strang just right as the man of few words and many drawings.
Glasgow Film Theatre, August 11-17.
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